The Ultimate Cleaning Small Appliances Quiz

The many small kitchen appliances that are common today make our lives easier, but only if they are properly cared for. They can easily become useless if not kept clean. Take this quiz to learn more about how to clean small appliances.

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Question 1 of 15

Why can't some blender jars be washed in the dishwasher?

the detergent can dull their blades

The instruction manual that comes with the blender should tell you whether you can wash the jar in the dishwasher or not.

they are more prone to cracking in the dishwasher

their shape prevents them from getting fully clean

Question 2 of 15

What is an easy way to clean the inside of a blender jar?

turning it on with a detergent solution inside

After running it with the some detergent, rinse the jar thoroughly to remove the detergent residue.

wiping it with olive oil and a paper towel

rinse it out with a warm water and alcohol solution

Question 3 of 15

What is useful for cleaning the base of a blender made from stainless steel?

glass cleaner

Rub the glass cleaner on the blender with a soft cloth to clean it and avoid streaks.

ammonia

alcohol

Question 4 of 15

What should you mix with water for a homemade solution to clean a plastic blender base?

baking soda

A similar solution can be used to clean the base of a food processor. The blades should be washed gently and carefully by hand.

dishwashing detergent

cornstarch and alcohol

Question 5 of 15

What type of coffee maker requires special attention in its cleaning?

percolators

Oil from the coffee beans can build up in a percolator. If you don't clean them properly, the oils will eventually begin to affect the coffee taste.

drip coffee makers

French presses

Question 6 of 15

What combination helps to remove coffee stains from a glass pot in a drop coffee maker?

crushed ice, water and salt

Swirl the slushy mixture inside the pot, then rinse and wash as usual.

baking soda, water and vinegar

apple juice and baking powder

Question 7 of 15

What should you avoid using to clean a percolator?

steel wool

Steel wool can scratch the surface of the percolator pot. These scratches can fill up with accumulated coffee residue.

powdered detergent

non-organic sponges

Question 8 of 15

What should you be sure to do each time you clean your electric can opener?

unplug it first

You should also never put your electric can opener into water. It may be small, but it still runs on electricity.

sharpen the blade

run it for 30 seconds after cleaning

Question 9 of 15

How should you remove caked on food from an electric can opener?

using a toothbrush

Certain parts of the can opener can be removed and cleaned separately. Rinse and dry everything before putting the machine back together.

using steel wool

using an organic sponge

Question 10 of 15

What should you do to ensure that your garbage disposal doesn't begin to smell?

Let it continue working for a few seconds with just water running through it.

The water will help flush out any remaining bits of food. Drain cleaners can actually damage the garbage disposal.

Pour drain-cleaning gel into it.

Let it sit unused for a full day between each major use.

Question 11 of 15

What types of food products can be bad for an in-sink garbage disposal?

artichoke leaves

fatty pieces of meat

Other things to avoid putting into a garbage disposal include corn husks, paper, wood, glass, plastic and metal.

dry nuts and seeds

Question 12 of 15

What can help remove a foul odor that come from your in-sink garbage disposal?

orange or lemon peels

Another option is to put baking soda on ice cubes and run the disposal with them inside.

warm water with nothing else

egg shells

Question 13 of 15

What should you avoid using to clean the inside of your toaster?

metal

Even if you do what you should, and unplug the toaster before cleaning it, you still should not use metal to clean inside. The coils can easily get damaged this way.

plastic

wood

Question 14 of 15

What should you use to clean tough dirt spots on a toaster oven's tray?

a synthetic scouring pad

Warm water and dishwashing detergent should be sufficient to clean this and the scouring pad can help scrub off the build-up without damaging the tray.

steel wool

an organic sponge

Question 15 of 15

What should you wipe on the grids of a waffle iron to protect them?

vegetable oil

If this proves insufficient, you can also take the grids out and wash them with warm water and soap.